“One vacant yet significant seat in our delegation rightfully belongs to Georgia’s third president Mikheil Saakashvili, who bravely confronted Putin in 2008 and steadfastly defended Georgia’s sovereignty. He has endured four years of imprisonment for his courage,” stated Tina Bokuchava, Chair of the United National Movement (UNM), as she addressed the Congress of the European People’s Party (EPP) in Valencia, Spain.

Bokuchava expressed gratitude to EPP President Manfred Weber for his unwavering commitment to values “under threat across Europe.”

“As Putin wages a brutal war against Ukraine, he simultaneously conducts a hybrid war against Georgia, the country I represent with pride and honour. There is a special place in our delegation for Georgia’s third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, who bravely confronted Putin in 2008. He warned Europe long before the Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine about Putin’s imperial ambitions. For this bravery, he spent four years in prison under a regime supported by Russia.

Bidzina Ivanishvili has undermined our EU candidacy, while his puppet Prime Minister announced a halt to Georgia’s European integration following rigged elections, which were widely recognized as a Russian special operation against the Georgian people.

This announcement sparked widespread protests across the country. The regime responded with violence and repression, leading to over 500 individuals being detained, with more than 50 still imprisoned for political reasons. The detainees faced mistreatment, draconian laws were enacted, excessive fines were imposed, and activists’ homes were invaded to instil fear and stifle freedom of speech. Yet, despite this, the heart of Europe beats in Tbilisi, where a persistent protest has continued for 153 days,” she continued.

According to the UNM Chair, Europe must unite against a common adversary.

“Georgians have demonstrated remarkable resilience and courage in the face of Kremlin-organized terror while pursuing our shared European future. However, Europe must stand united against this common threat, for only decisive actions can halt the individual who has reignited war on the European continent. Specifically, in Georgia’s case, this means imposing targeted sanctions against Ivanishvili and his Kremlin-supported allies. Regimes aligned with Putin thrive on division. Thus, Europe must lead with unity and decisive measures. Europe can and must be a leader, and it will be if the European People’s Party commits to building a united, free, and peaceful Europe,” she concluded.